Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Eliot vs Franconia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethlehem has the most people working from home (31.2%).
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Franconia has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Bethlehem | Eliot | Franconia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,537 |
7,146Highest |
1,060Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±8.5Lowest 30% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
55.6±7Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Franconia and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bethlehem and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
36.6%±6.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Franconia and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Franconia and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,029±$18kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$87,292±$28k 8% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,300±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$530,300±$96kHighest 59% above U.S. |
| Franconia and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,281±$278 9% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,418 74% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$7,451Highest 139% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±18.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±74.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Franconia and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 23% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 15% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.2%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bethlehem and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #34 of 120 in NH | #19 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Lafayette Regional School District |
| High school in town | Profile Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.